XN000022-1987-10-07 — Page 23

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1987

"AS A RESULT OF WORK IN THE GROUP AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED IN PRINCIPLE ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE PARTICIPATION IN THE INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNION, THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION, THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT, AND THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC, HE SAID.

"

TO

SIR DAVID ALSO SAID THE LAND COMMISSION HAD CONTINUED PRODUCE PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO A NUMBER OF PRACTICAL PROBLEMS. IT REACHED AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE ON LEGISLATIVE MEANS TO EXTEND THE VAST MAJORITY OF LAND LEASES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WITHOUT REQUIRING PAYMENT OF AN ADDITIONAL PREMIUM.

TO THE YEAR 2047

MEMBERS OF THE

ESTABLISHED ITS PROVIDED FOR IN

SIR DAVID SAID THE EXISTING CONTACTS BETWEEN BRITISH AND CHINESE TEAMS WOULD BE STRENGTHENED TO GIVE FURTHER IMPETUS TO THEIR WORK WHEN THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP PRINCIPAL BASE IN HONG KONG FROM JULY 1 NEXT YEAR AS THE JOINT DECLARATION.

"I AM CONFIDENT THAT BOTH THE JOINT LIAISON GROUP AND THE LAND COMMISSION WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY AN EFFECTIVE AND POSITIVE ROLE IN IMPLEMENTING THE TERMS OF THE JOINT DECLARATION. HE ADDED.

SIR DAVID SAID THE BASIC LAW DRAFTING VARIOUS SUB-GROUPS HAD MADE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS.

COMMITTEE AND ITS

WITH

"NATURALLY, THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG HAVE BEEN WATCHING GREAT INTEREST THE DRAFTING PROCESS OF THE DOCUMENT WHICH WILL FORM THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION AND WHICH WILL ALSO INFLUENCE THE EVOLUTION OF OUR OWN SYSTEMS BEFORE THEN.

"MANY HONG KONG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN

THE

PROCESS.

"THE FIRST DRAFT OF THE BASIC LAW, DUE TO BE PUBLISHED EARLY NEXT YEAR, WILL BE ANOTHER KEY BUILDING BLOCK IN THE CREATION OF A CLEAR STRUCTURE FOR OUR FUTURE,” HE ADDED.

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